US 12,643,072 B2 · Systems and methods for acoustically-enhanced membrane separation

Abstract

Systems and methods for acoustically-enhanced membrane separation are described. The system may generally include a separation membrane and an acoustically-responsive structure positioned proximate the upstream side of the separation membrane. The system may further include a transducer for generating an acoustic field, wherein the acoustic field causes microstructures extending from the acoustically-responsive structure to oscillate and thereby create streaming effects in the region between the distal ends of the microstructures and the upstream side of the separation membrane. These streaming effects can prevent or remove separation membrane fouling, prevent the formation of cake layers on the separation membrane, and/or remove cake layer formed on a separation membrane.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An acoustically enhanced membrane separation system, comprising:

A separation membrane having an upstream side and a downstream side;
An acoustically responsive structure comprising a plurality of microstructures extending away from a base portion of the acoustically responsive structure, wherein distal ends of the plurality of microstructures are positioned proximate the upstream side of the separation membrane;
and
A transducer configured to generate an acoustic field;
Wherein the system is configured such that the acoustic field generated by the transducer excites resonation of the plurality of microstructures and the distance between the distal ends of the plurality of microstructures and the upstream side of the membrane is adjustable.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for acoustically-enhanced membrane separation

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for acoustically-enhanced membrane separation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13